CLINTONRESORTGETS A HEARING

Local, state and federal government officials were given a private resentation Monday on the hotel development planned for Clinton Lake.

Government officials and developers who plan to build a $21.8 million, 150-room hotel at Clinton Lake met Monday in Topeka to discuss the project.

The private meeting amounted to an introduction to the plan for many of the participants, who earlier knew few project details.

"This is the first time I'd had any formal presentation," said Dean Nieder, Douglas County Commission chairman.

Thirty-one people attended the meeting. They represented branches of local, state and federal governments, developer CB Richard Ellis and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

News reporters were barred.

Sally Baltes, public information officer with the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing, said reporters was not allowed because the group would not be making any decisions and because no contract had been signed.

"This is just a planning session," Baltes said. "The developer has a right to have some of that information kept private."

Nieder said public forums on the topic would take place in the next few weeks.

The development plan was set in motion last year when a state law was enacted to encourage developers to build resorts at 22 of the 24 state parks.

CB Richard Ellis of Kansas City, Mo., was selected last month to pursue the project at Clinton Lake, which the state leases from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The company's proposal includes a restaurant and bar, fitness center, tennis courts and marina.

Baltes said the public input would have a bearing on the project.

"One of the reasons this particular developer was picked is because they've had experience in taking public input," she said, adding the company also has experience with projects in environmentally sensitive areas.

Whatever details emerge in the final plan would have to be reviewed by Wildlife and Parks and the corps before being approved by the Kansas Legislature.

The developers say they want to open the resort by May 2001.

-- Kendrick Blackwood's phone message number is 832-7221. His e-mail address is kblackwood@ljworld.com.